Seahawks survive off night to advance past Bulldogs

The Myrtle Beach boys basketball team picked a bad time to turn in one of its worst offensive performances of the season.

Fortunately for the second-seeded Seahawks, so did visiting Marlboro County as Myrtle Beach squeaked by the Bulldogs 36-33 in the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs.

The Seahawks and Bulldogs suffered through woeful shooting nights as Marlboro County held a 16-14 halftime lead. The Seahawks went on an 11-1 run to take the lead in the third period but had to survive a fourth-quarter cold spell.

Myrtle Beach was led by senior guard Nolin Butler, who scored a game-high 16 points. Solomon Cooper added seven points, including the game-winning tip-in in the waning seconds. On the defensive end, he also helped hold the taller Bulldogs at bay in the paint.

The Seahawks advance to the second round to face top-seeded Orangeburg-Wilkinson, which will host the game Friday night.